46 THE kntomolooist's record. 



numbers, the former hangino- in thousands on every tree and bush, 

 and some on bla les of grj^ss, etc., apparently just emerged, while every 

 oak-trunk was literally covered with ('. bnnnata, which flew off in 

 clouds as soon as the light fell on them. Many of these were also 

 freshly emerged with still undeveloped wings. There would appear to 

 be a poor lookout for the foliage on the Common next summer judging 

 by the number of females of both species crawling about the trees and 

 bushes. On the way home I observed several I'hiyalia pedaria 

 (pihimria) on the lamps, and one which I examined had evidently been 

 out some little time, as the fringes were very worn. By the way, I see 

 the list of Geometrids noted on the Common by Mr. Smallman {Knt. 

 Berniil, XX., pp. 60-61) does not include Cheimatobia boreata, which is 

 exceedingly common among the birch bushes here. — (Capt.) P. A. 

 Cardew, 50, Melbury Gardens, Cottenham Park, Wimbledon. Ja)tiia)i/ 

 8t/i, 1910. 



(CURRENT NOTES. 



The Entomological Society of London held its Annual Meeting 

 on January 19th, when Dr. F. A. Dixey read an excellent Presidential 

 Address, the special portion of which related to the Androconia of the 

 Pierine butterflies. The President after congratulating the Society on 

 its continued prosperity, and paying a tribute to the memory of 

 distinguished entomologists who had died during the past year, referred 

 to the appointment by the Colonial Office of a Committee for Entomo- 

 logical Research, which, he hoped, might be taken as evidence of 

 increased recognition by public authorities of the value of scientific 

 advice and co-operation. The recent Darwin commemoration at 

 Cambridge and the approaching International Congress of Entomology 

 at Brussels were then noticed. 



Much has already been published on the subject of " Androconia " 

 or " male plumules," as they are sometimes called, especially with 

 regard to those of the Lycjienids, but Dr. Dixey opened new ground in 

 bringing forward details of those of a considerable number of species, 

 and entering into a comparison of the broad features of those of 

 different generic groups. Dr. Dixey, in the wider outlook that he has 

 taken, necessarily lays himself open to criticism of details, but his 

 final statement is really an appeal for such criticism, and one can 

 heartily congratulate him on a very excellent address containing 

 much that is evidently " both new and true." 



On the critical side one feels at once that one would like to know 

 many more details than could possibly be given in the address, of the 

 androconia of many groups. We are particularly interested in the 

 group that Dr. Dixey calls Juichlo'e (pp. 20-21). Here we have such 

 species as (1) scolynnut, sara, eupheyioides (in which there are said to be 

 no androconia); (2) ijenutia, jdnia, belia (in which they are scanty); 

 (3) cardaiiiincs, aiisania (in fair numbers); (4) creiisa, belled ice {7 = 

 hellezina), beleiiiia (in which they are abundant), all united under the 

 name KiicJihie. Based on the characters of the early stages, as well as on 

 the neuration, these species are not at all so closely allied as the putting 

 of them into one genus would suggest, and they consist of representatives 

 of at least two fairly widely separate genera — EiH^.HLoii — carda)iihiei<, 

 [iriini'vi, dauinne, eiipJteno, evplienm'des, sara, ! f/e)iiiti(i, Anthochakis — 



